Benfica

1 January 1970

Benfica slideshow

Benfica's player Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring the first goal against Feirense during their Portuguese First League soccer match held at Marcolino Castro stadium in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. EFE/EPA

Benfica's player Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring the first goal against Feirense during their Portuguese First League soccer match held at Marcolino Castro stadium in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. EFE/EPA

JC. Santa Maria Da Feira (Portugal), 02/03/2018.- Benfica's player Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring the first goal against Feirense during their Portuguese First League soccer match held at Marcolino Castro stadium in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, 17 March 2018. EFE/EPA/JOSE COELHO

JC. Santa Maria Da Feira (Portugal), 02/03/2018.- Benfica's player Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring the first goal against Feirense during their Portuguese First League soccer match held at Marcolino Castro stadium in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, 17 March 2018. EFE/EPA/JOSE COELHO

Report: Arsenal, Liverpool Set to Go Head to Head in Summer Battle for Jan Oblak

Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly set to go head-to-head this summer in a bid to sign highly-rated Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

According to Spanish publication AS, the Slovenian international is a main target of both the Gunners and the Reds in the next transfer window in a bid to fix their respected goalkeeping situation.

Arsene Wenger is said to be considering his options in goal after the shaky performances of veteran Petr Cech this season, while Colombian international David Ospina has failed to convince during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp meanwhile is also believed to monitoring Oblak's availability. Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet haven't enjoyed the happiest of times at Anfield, and despite the German's recent upturn in form, Klopp is keen to strengthen in that department this summer.

Oblak won't come cheap should Wenger or Klopp make a bid for him in the summer, with his £88m buy-out clause potentially making him the world's most expensive goalkeeper should he move.

That astronomical fee would break the previous record set by Manchester City when they signed Ederson in the previous summer from SL Benfica for £34.7m.

Should anyone sign the 25-year-old however, they would be getting a man with 22 clean sheets in 35 appearances this season alone, while 86 clean sheets in 148 games for Atletico Madrid has sounded the former SL Benfica man out as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Under-fire Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho went on an extraordinary, wide-ranging rant ahead of the crucial FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton. With the club reeling from Tuesday's surprise Champions League last-16 exit to Sevilla, here is what the Portuguese had to say in just over 12 amazing minutes during a pre-match press conference. REPORTER "I've spoken to a few of the supporters this week that said they were a bit disappointed by some of the performance levels against Sevilla. What would you say to those fans?" MOURINHO "I say to the fans that the fans are the fans, and the fans have the right to have their opinions and to have their reactions. "But there is something that I used to call football heritage - I try to translate from my Portuguese, which is almost perfect to my English that is far from perfect. "But translation, word by word is something like football heritage and what a manager inherits is something like is that the last time Manchester United won the Champions League, which didn't happen a lot of times, was in 2008. The (last) final was 2011. "Since 2011, 2012 out in the group phase. The group was almost the same group as we had this season: Benfica, Basel and Galati from Romania. Out in the group phase. "In 2013, out at Old Trafford in the last-16. I was in the other bench (as Real Madrid manager). "In 2014, out in the quarter-final. "In 2015, no European football. The boss wraps up a passionate 12-minute message to #MUFC fans during his press conference… pic.twitter.com/JRaaBMpdcd— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 16, 2018 "In 2016, comes back to European football, out in the group phase, goes to Europa League and on the second knockout out, out of Europa League. "On 2017, play Europa League, win Europa League with me and goes back to Champions League. "In 2018, win the group phase with 15 points in possible 18 and loses at home the last-16. "So, in seven years with four different managers, once not qualified for Europe, twice out in the group phase and the best was a quarter-final. This is football heritage. "And if you want to go to the Premier League, the last victory was 12-13 and in the four consecutive seasons, United finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh - or seventh, fourth, five and six. "So, in the last four years the best was fourth. This is football heritage. "It means that when you start the process, you are here, you are there, or you are there. It is heritage. It's heritage. "And if the fans, that I will always respect, always respect... if the fans... and many of them are the ones you speak with (in the media), many of them are the ones I speak with, or I am very lucky and very unlucky (with you speak to). "But the ones that speak with you are very disappointed and the ones I speak with knows what is is football heritage. "They know what is a process and know when they arrive. "When I arrived in Real Madrid, do you know how many players played quarter-final of Champions League? "Xabi Alonso with Liverpool, Iker Casillas with Real Madrid and Cristian Ronaldo with Real Madrid. "All the others, not even a quarter-final. That's football heritage" REPORTER "Jose, those stats..." MOURINHO "They are real, they are real. Do you want other real? I'll give you a couple more real. "In the last seven years, the worst position of Manchester City in the Premier League was fourth. "In the last seven years, Manchester City was champions twice and if you want to say three times because they will be in one more week, two, three or four (weeks) and they were second twice. That's heritage. "Do you know what is also heritage? "It's that (Nicolas) Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, (David) Silva, (Raheem) Sterling, (Sergio) Aguero - they are investments from the past, not from the last two years. From the past. "Do you know how many of United players that left the club last season? See where they play. Where they play, how they play, if they play. That's football heritage. "And one day when I leave, the next Manchester United manager will find here (Romelu) Lukaku, (Nemanja) Matic, of course (David) De Gea from many years ago, they will find players with a different mentality, with a different quality, with a different background, with a different status, with a different know-how. Has Jose Mourinho changed tactically since his early managerial days? "And for some reason you go to the Champions League quarter-final like today and there are there four clubs that are always there. Always there. "Barcelona is always there in the past seven, eight years. Real Madrid is always there in the past seven, eight years. "Juventus is always there, Bayern Munich is always there and then, of course, appears now and again another club like my Inter, like some other clubs like Monaco last season. "Some clubs but the ones that are always there is for some reason. Is for some reason. "And the good thing for me and the amazing feeling for me is that I am (on) exactly in the same page as the owners, as (executive vice-chairman) Mr (Ed) Woodward, as (managing director) Mr (Richard) Arnold. We are exactly in the same page. "We agree in everything. We know that we have a process. We agree in the investments, we agree that we have what we have, the investments we are going to do are going to be progressively season after season. "We need more than the investments, we need also the time. We are exactly in the same page. "So, life is good. "I have an amazing job to do. Yesterday I met a new person that we have in the club working in a different area, nothing to do directly with my job but it is as a person that come from another club and I asked, 'why did you decide to come?' "And the person told me 'because I did as fantastic job in another club and I know that this club I have a big, huge job in front of me to do, so I come for the challenge'. "Well done, well done - my decision to come here was the same thing. "I could be in another country with a league in the pocket. The kind of league you win before the league starts. I could be (but) I am not, I am here. "I am here, and I am going to be here, and no way - no way - I am going to change my mentality. "For me, I don't know if you know the expression, I don't know if the translation to England makes you understand, but there is quote that I like which is something like 'in every wall is a door'. "You know, every wall is a door? "I am not going to run away, I am not going to disappear, I am not going to cry because I heard a few boos. "I am not going to disappear from the tunnel, running immediately. Man Utd: What exactly were you expecting when you hired Jose Mourinho? "The next match I'll be the first to go out. I respect the fans, I am not afraid anything. I am not afraid of my responsibilities. "When I was 20 years old, I was nobody in football. I was somebody's son. "What I was with, a lot of pride, when I was 20 years old was somebody's son. You know? "And now, with 55, I am what I am, I did what I did because of work, because of my talent and because of my mentality. "So, they can be together. You know, I understand that for many, many, many, many, many, many years, it was really, really hard for the people that doesn't like me. "'Here he is again', 'here he wins again,' 'here he is again', 'here he wins again', so for 10 months I win nothing. "For 10 months, I win nothing. The last title I won was 10 months ago, you know? "I beat Liverpool, I beat Chelsea, I lose against Sevilla and now is there moment to be happy. "OK, I also learned that in my religious formation be happy with others happiness even if the others are your enemies. "So be with it. I am a very lucky guy and I am really happy to be what I am."

A defiant Jose Mourinho came out fighting in an extraordinary rant in the wake of Manchester United’s humiliating Champions League exit to Sevilla. Reading from notes on a piece of paper at his press conference on Friday, Mourinho defended the defeat by reeling off a long line of statistics to underline the problems he inherited at Old Trafford and the scale of the challenge he believes he faces to put United back on top again. It formed the basis of an impassioned defence of his 22-month reign at United as he told his critics he would not run away in the face of some boos following the Sevilla debacle. "I don't know if you know the expression but there is a quote that I like, ‘In every wall there is a door’,” the United manager said. “I am not going to run away or disappear or to cry because I heard a few boos, I'm not going to disappear from the tunnel, running immediately. The next match I will be the first to go out. I am not afraid of my responsibilities. When I was 20 I was nobody in football, I was somebody's son, with a lot of pride. “And now at 55 I am what I am. I did what I did because of work and because of talent and my mentality. So they can be together, I understand that for many, many, many years it was really, really hard for the people who don’t like me – ‘Here he is again, here he wins again’. For 10 months I win nothing, the last title that I won was 10 months ago. I beat Liverpool, Chelsea, I lose against Sevilla and now is their moment to be happy. I learn that in my religious formation, be happy with others happiness, even if they are your enemies, so be it, I am a really happy guy. “The amazing feeling for me is that I am exactly on the same page as the owners, as Mr [Ed] Woodward, Mr [Richard] Arnold, we are on exactly the same page, we agree on everything, on the investments, that we have what we have, the investments that we are going to do will be season after season, we are exactly on the same page, so life is good. I have an amazing job to do.” Sevilla left Old Trafford stunned on Tuesday night following the Spanish side's 2-1 victory Credit: Getty Images With United trailing Manchester City by 16 points in the Premier League, United’s hopes of silverware this season now rest on the FA Cup in which they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarter-finals on Saturday after their 2-1 loss to Sevilla. Mourinho had been criticised in the aftermath of Tuesday’s exit by saying United’s elimination at the round of 16 stage was “nothing new” for the club. But he not only defended but expanded on his claims by issuing a withering season-by-season breakdown of United’s “heritage” in Europe since their last appearance in the Champions League final in 2011. And he then offered a similarly damning appraisal of their Premier League since their last title triumph in 2013 in a sermon that lasted 12½ minutes. “I say to the fans that the fans are the fans and have the right to their opinions and reactions but there is something that I used to call football heritage,” Mourinho said, as he began his address to reporters. “I try to translate from my Portuguese, which is almost perfect, to my English, which is far from perfect, football heritage. And what a manager inherits is something like the last time Manchester United reached the Champions League in 2011. Since 2011, 2012 out in the group phase, the group was almost the same group we had this season, Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati from Romania. Out in the group phase in 2013, out at Old Trafford in the last 16, I was on the other bench [with Real Madrid]. In 2014, out in the quarter-finals. “In 2015, no European football. In 2016, comes back to European football, out in the group phase, goes to Europe League and on the second knockout out of the Europa Leage. In 2017, play Europa League, win Europa League with me and goes back to Champions League. Man Utd: What exactly were you expecting when you hired Jose Mourinho? “In 2018, win the group phase with 15 points out of a possible 18 and loses at home in the last 16. So in seven years with four different managers, once not qualify for Europe, twice out in the group phase and the best was the quarter-finals, this is football heritage. “And if you want to go to the Premier League, the last victory was 12/13 and in the four consecutive seasons United finish seventh, fourth fifth and sixth. So in the last four years the best was fourth. This is football heritage. It means that when you start the process you are here, you are there or you are there, is heritage. And if the fans that I will always respect, always respect, if the fans and many of them are the ones you speak with, many of them are the ones I speak with and I am very lucky but the ones who speak with you are very disappointed and the ones I speak with know what is football heritage, what is a process and when I arrive. "When I arrived in Real Madrid, do you know how many players played in the quarter-finals of the Champions League? Xabi Alonso with Liverpool, Iker Casillas with Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo with Manchester United. All the others not even a quarter-final, that's football heritage.” When a reporter attempted to ask another question, Mourinho interjected and continued his rant. “Those stats are real,” he said. “I give you a couple more, in the last seven years the worst position of Manchester City in the Premier League was fourth, in the last seven years Manchester City was champions twice and if you want to say three times because in one, two, three weeks they will have. They were second twice. That's heritage. Do you know what is also heritage? It is that Nicolas Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, they are investments from the past, not from the last two years, do you know how many of United players that left the club last season? See where they play, how they play, if they play. Is Jose Mourinho the man to solve the Paul Pogba puzzle? “That's football heritage and one day when I leave the next Man United manager will find here Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, of course David De Gea from many years ago, they will find players with a different mentality, quality, background, with a different status, know-how, and for some reason you go to the Champions League quarter-finals like today and there are four clubs that are always there, always there. Barcelona is always there in the past seven, eight years, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich and then of course appear now and again, another club like my Inter, like some other clubs like Monaco last season, but the ones that are always there is for some reason and the good thing for me. “Yesterday I met a new person we have working in the club in a different area that came from another club and I ask, ‘Why did you decide to come?’. The person told me, ‘I did a fantastic club in another job and at this club I have a huge job and I come for the challenge.’Well done. My decision was based on the same thing, I could be in another country with the league in the pocket, I am here and I am going to be here and no way am I going to change my mentality.”

Report: American Keaton Parks to take part in Benfica preseason training

A bigger role likely awaits Keaton Parks next season at Benfica.

Report: American Keaton Parks to take part in Benfica preseason training

A bigger role likely awaits Keaton Parks next season at Benfica.

Friedel, Bocanegra, Henry nominated for Hall of Fame

FILE - In this Thursday, March 20, 2014, file photo, Tottenham's goalkeeper Brad Friedel gestures during the Europa League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Benfica and Tottenham at Benfica's Luz stadium, in Lisbon. Veteran American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has signed a new one-year contract with Tottenham, where he will also take up an ambassador role from next season. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Marco Silva lined up to replace Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria next season

Marco Silva lined up to replace Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria next season

Marco Silva lined up to replace Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria next season

Marco Silva lined up to replace Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria next season

Benfica's Franco Cervi (R) celebrates after Ruben Dias scored a goal during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Benfica's Franco Cervi (R) celebrates after Ruben Dias scored a goal during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Benfica's Andre Almeida (R) in action against Desportivo Aves' goalkeeper Adriano Facchini (L) during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Benfica's Andre Almeida (R) in action against Desportivo Aves' goalkeeper Adriano Facchini (L) during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Benfica's Alejandro Grimaldo (R) in action against Fernando Tissone (L) of Desportivo Aves during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Benfica's Alejandro Grimaldo (R) in action against Fernando Tissone (L) of Desportivo Aves during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. EFE

Lisbon (Portugal), 10/03/2018.- Benfica's Jonas celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 March 2018. (Lisboa) EFE/EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Lisbon (Portugal), 10/03/2018.- Benfica's Jonas celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 March 2018. (Lisboa) EFE/EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Lisbon (Portugal), 10/03/2018.- Benfica's Jonas celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 March 2018. (Lisboa) EFE/EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Lisbon (Portugal), 10/03/2018.- Benfica's Jonas celebrates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Portuguese First League soccer match between Benfica Lisbon and Desportivo Aves at Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 March 2018. (Lisboa) EFE/EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Benfica said, in a statement on their website, that they were confident that team official Paulo Goncalves would be able to prove that he "acted lawfully" and said they were "totally available" to cooperate with the inquiry

Benfica said, in a statement on their website, that they were confident that team official Paulo Goncalves would be able to prove that he "acted lawfully" and said they were "totally available" to cooperate with the inquiry (AFP Photo/STR)

Benfica said, in a statement on their website, that they were confident that team official Paulo Goncalves would be able to prove that he "acted lawfully" and said they were "totally available" to cooperate with the inquiry

Benfica said, in a statement on their website, that they were confident that team official Paulo Goncalves would be able to prove that he "acted lawfully" and said they were "totally available" to cooperate with the inquiry

Barcelona's Marcus McGuane is a flag-bearer for those putting opportunity abroad before sterile security at home

Marcus McGuane will be back in training on Saturday on the pitches reserved for Barcelona B at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, having taken one small step forward in his own career but planted a flag in significant new territory for young English footballers across Europe. The 19-year-old became the first Englishman to represent Barcelona, a club that have done more than any other to transform football in the 21st century, since Gary Lineker was one of their front line strikers between 1986 and 1989. In McGuane’s case there has been a tendency to project him as something of a competition winner, an unknown teenager from Greenwich catapulted into the football aristocracy but the reality of his January move from Arsenal to Catalonia is different. Like many promising teenage junior England internationals languishing in Premier League development squads with little prospect of first-team action, there was a great deal of interest in McGuane whose contract at Arsenal was due to expire in this summer. He had interest from Juventus and there was an offer from the Serie A club Sassuolo to make him a first-team player immediately but at Barcelona he saw a career route that was irresistible. McGuane joined Arsenal’s academy at Hale End at the entry level of seven years old and was one of his age-group’s exceptional players throughout. In the summer after his 16th birthday in 2015, he signed a two-year scholarship with the guarantee of a pro deal when he turned 17 on Feb 2, 2016 and Arsenal would have offered him another deal after that to keep him. But increasingly, McGuane, an England international at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level, realised that it was first-team opportunity that he needed. Barcelona might never have taken such a strong interest had he been one of the English junior system’s many promising attacking players but instead McGuane fitted a profile Barca were specifically scouting. He is an athletic defensive midfielder with good technique and for the Barcelona B team that came back up to the second tier of Spanish football, McGuane was what was needed. Barca B, coached in the past by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Juande Ramos, have just spent two years in the third tier. Proud moment making my @FCBarcelona debut and to also win the Catalunya Supercopa���� #forçabarçapic.twitter.com/Xm7Ny1xhYp— Marcus McGuane (@marcusmcguane58) March 8, 2018 Currently 16th in a 22-team Segunda Division, it is right to say that they do struggle at times – but that is the point. They often field teams with an average age of around 19 who play league games against seasoned pros at famous clubs like Real Zaragoza and Osasuna. McGuane, friends say, is having to re-learn parts of his game to accommodate the Barcelona way. He has a four-and-a-half year contract and by the end of it, he recognises he may be a Barcelona player or he may not. But he is certain he will be a better player. He grew up in south-east London and played for the Republic of Ireland with eligibility through his grandparents from Limerick on the side of his mother Patricia. At Arsenal he worked under Kwame Ampadu, father of Chelsea’s Ethan, when he was in the Under-18s side and was highly-rated by the club’s then academy director Andries Jonker. McGuane switched from Ireland to England in 2015 and he was first coached in the Under-17s by Steve Cooper, the Welshman originally from Liverpool’s academy who won that age-category’s World Cup last summer. Marcus is a serious footballer and a serious lad and he is very mature for his age,” Cooper told The Telegraph. “He is competitive and very focused on his role in the team. Barcelona will be looking at him as a No6. I am not surprised he has taken this challenge on. It’s a no-brainer. He will very much embrace what he needs to learn and to adapt. “They play a very positional game and I can see him learning that and thriving on it. I hope he does well, it will be good for everyone in English development football. I am sure he is not getting carried away.” Marcus McGuane was given 12 minutes of first-team football by Arsenal in the Europa League, 11 against BATE Borisov and one, here, against Red Star Belgrade Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images At Arsenal, McGuane was a contemporary of the striker Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, who played up a school year. They were a very strong group of players and were all offered professional deals with McGuane finally tasting first-team action before Christmas when he came on for brief substitute performances in Europa League group games against BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade. The feeling at the club was that anther young Englishman, Joe Willock, who played in McGuane’s position, was a better option. For years, English clubs at the elite end have stockpiled players on the basis that while their development might be stalled, their contracts will keep them loyal. In McGuane’s case it was different and he felt that there was no prospect of advancing at Arsenal. At Barcelona he is playing second division football in a good league against clubs competing to get into the Liga top-flight. Barca B cannot be promoted for obvious reasons, but they consider the league to be excellent preparation for their youngsters. �� The first words of Marcus McGuane as a Barça player / Les primeres paraules de Marcus McGuane com a nou jugador del @FCBarcelonaB / Las primeras palabras de Marcus McGuane como nuevo jugador azulgrana #BarçaB#ForçaBarça@LaLigapic.twitter.com/BZ8ze2RwWf— FC Barcelona B (@FCBarcelonaB) January 30, 2018 McGuane is one of a new generation of English players who have gone overseas for first team experience, including Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund; Reece Oxford on loan from West Ham at Borussia Monchengladbach; Mandela Egbo at the same German club; Chris Willock, brother of Joe, at Benfica. The penny seems to be dropping that a lucrative Premier League contract at 17 is not worth as much as the opportunity to build a much longer, sustainable top-flight career elsewhere. Barcelona have helped McGuane find somewhere to live close to the training ground and he has played four times for Barca B since moving in January. Last night’s Catalan Supercopa final win over Espanyol is considered a senior appearance by the club itself. He is described as a serious, committed young footballer who hired a coach to begin his own pre-season privately last summer and so far it has paid off, although he would be the first to acknowledge there is a long way to go.

Barcelona's Marcus McGuane is a flag-bearer for those putting opportunity abroad before sterile security at home

Marcus McGuane will be back in training on Saturday on the pitches reserved for Barcelona B at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, having taken one small step forward in his own career but planted a flag in significant new territory for young English footballers across Europe. The 19-year-old became the first Englishman to represent Barcelona, a club that have done more than any other to transform football in the 21st century, since Gary Lineker was one of their front line strikers between 1986 and 1989. In McGuane’s case there has been a tendency to project him as something of a competition winner, an unknown teenager from Greenwich catapulted into the football aristocracy but the reality of his January move from Arsenal to Catalonia is different. Like many promising teenage junior England internationals languishing in Premier League development squads with little prospect of first-team action, there was a great deal of interest in McGuane whose contract at Arsenal was due to expire in this summer. He had interest from Juventus and there was an offer from the Serie A club Sassuolo to make him a first-team player immediately but at Barcelona he saw a career route that was irresistible. McGuane joined Arsenal’s academy at Hale End at the entry level of seven years old and was one of his age-group’s exceptional players throughout. In the summer after his 16th birthday in 2015, he signed a two-year scholarship with the guarantee of a pro deal when he turned 17 on Feb 2, 2016 and Arsenal would have offered him another deal after that to keep him. But increasingly, McGuane, an England international at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level, realised that it was first-team opportunity that he needed. Barcelona might never have taken such a strong interest had he been one of the English junior system’s many promising attacking players but instead McGuane fitted a profile Barca were specifically scouting. He is an athletic defensive midfielder with good technique and for the Barcelona B team that came back up to the second tier of Spanish football, McGuane was what was needed. Barca B, coached in the past by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Juande Ramos, have just spent two years in the third tier. Proud moment making my @FCBarcelona debut and to also win the Catalunya Supercopa���� #forçabarçapic.twitter.com/Xm7Ny1xhYp— Marcus McGuane (@marcusmcguane58) March 8, 2018 Currently 16th in a 22-team Segunda Division, it is right to say that they do struggle at times – but that is the point. They often field teams with an average age of around 19 who play league games against seasoned pros at famous clubs like Real Zaragoza and Osasuna. McGuane, friends say, is having to re-learn parts of his game to accommodate the Barcelona way. He has a four-and-a-half year contract and by the end of it, he recognises he may be a Barcelona player or he may not. But he is certain he will be a better player. He grew up in south-east London and played for the Republic of Ireland with eligibility through his grandparents from Limerick on the side of his mother Patricia. At Arsenal he worked under Kwame Ampadu, father of Chelsea’s Ethan, when he was in the Under-18s side and was highly-rated by the club’s then academy director Andries Jonker. McGuane switched from Ireland to England in 2015 and he was first coached in the Under-17s by Steve Cooper, the Welshman originally from Liverpool’s academy who won that age-category’s World Cup last summer. Marcus is a serious footballer and a serious lad and he is very mature for his age,” Cooper told The Telegraph. “He is competitive and very focused on his role in the team. Barcelona will be looking at him as a No6. I am not surprised he has taken this challenge on. It’s a no-brainer. He will very much embrace what he needs to learn and to adapt. “They play a very positional game and I can see him learning that and thriving on it. I hope he does well, it will be good for everyone in English development football. I am sure he is not getting carried away.” Marcus McGuane was given 12 minutes of first-team football by Arsenal in the Europa League, 11 against BATE Borisov and one, here, against Red Star Belgrade Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images At Arsenal, McGuane was a contemporary of the striker Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, who played up a school year. They were a very strong group of players and were all offered professional deals with McGuane finally tasting first-team action before Christmas when he came on for brief substitute performances in Europa League group games against BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade. The feeling at the club was that anther young Englishman, Joe Willock, who played in McGuane’s position, was a better option. For years, English clubs at the elite end have stockpiled players on the basis that while their development might be stalled, their contracts will keep them loyal. In McGuane’s case it was different and he felt that there was no prospect of advancing at Arsenal. At Barcelona he is playing second division football in a good league against clubs competing to get into the Liga top-flight. Barca B cannot be promoted for obvious reasons, but they consider the league to be excellent preparation for their youngsters. �� The first words of Marcus McGuane as a Barça player / Les primeres paraules de Marcus McGuane com a nou jugador del @FCBarcelonaB / Las primeras palabras de Marcus McGuane como nuevo jugador azulgrana #BarçaB#ForçaBarça@LaLigapic.twitter.com/BZ8ze2RwWf— FC Barcelona B (@FCBarcelonaB) January 30, 2018 McGuane is one of a new generation of English players who have gone overseas for first team experience, including Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund; Reece Oxford on loan from West Ham at Borussia Monchengladbach; Mandela Egbo at the same German club; Chris Willock, brother of Joe, at Benfica. The penny seems to be dropping that a lucrative Premier League contract at 17 is not worth as much as the opportunity to build a much longer, sustainable top-flight career elsewhere. Barcelona have helped McGuane find somewhere to live close to the training ground and he has played four times for Barca B since moving in January. Last night’s Catalan Supercopa final win over Espanyol is considered a senior appearance by the club itself. He is described as a serious, committed young footballer who hired a coach to begin his own pre-season privately last summer and so far it has paid off, although he would be the first to acknowledge there is a long way to go.

Marcus McGuane - Who is Barcelona's first Englishman since Gary Lineker, and why did Arsenal sell him?

With one substitute appearance on Wednesday evening, Marcus McGuane shot from relative unknown teenager to the big time. In coming off the bench to help Barcelona beat Espanyol in the Catalan Super Cup, McGuane became the first Englishman to feature for the club since Gary Lineker in 1989. McGuane, 19, only joined the Spanish giants from Arsenal in January and was one of 12 Barcelona B players brought into the first team for the match. What do we know about the young midfielder and how has he ended up at the one of the biggest clubs in the world? What has he done in his career? A born and bred Londoner, McGuane is a product of Arsenal's Hale End Academy, having joined the club when he was just six years old. Having worked his way through their various youth sides, he went on to captain Arsenal Under-18s and was a regular for the Under-23s when he opted to leave earlier this year. That decision came after he had featured just twice for Arsenal's first team - late substitute appearances in Europa League wins this season over BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade. McGuane featured twice for Arsenal in the Europa League earlier this season Credit: getty images McGuane's performances in youth football have also led to him gaining international experience. He initially represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 level before switching his allegiance to England. Since making that move, he gained eight caps England Under-17s and Under-18s, before featuring twice for the Under-19s last September. What position does he play? The simple answer is defensive midfield. But his versatility meant he played in both defence and midfield for Arsenal's Under-23s before leaving London. Arsene Wenger had this to say about McGuane: "He is a defensive midfielder, and overall he can play as a wing-back or even a centre-back in training." Why did he leave Arsenal? McGuane had spent the entire 12 years of his football education at Arsenal, rising through the ranks to make those two first-team appearances earlier this season. However, with six months remaining on his contract, he had reportedly grown concerned about his first-team chances and opted against signing a new deal. Has every Arsenal player regressed under Arsene Wenger? Instead he moved to Barcelona B for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal - with an option to extend for a further two years - containing a buyout clause of €25million (£22.4m). Wenger's selections in lesser competitions this campaign had seemed to suggest it was Joe Willock who he viewed as the club's most promising young central midfield talent rather than McGuane. Willock, 18, has been handed five starts in the Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup this season, while he was also given a five-year contract in November. With Willock seemingly rising to the top of the pecking order among the club's young talent, the likes of McGuane and Willock's own brother Chris - who left the club last summer to move to Benfica - have opted to look elsewhere, despite attempts from Arsenal to extend their stays at the club. Why did Barcelona want him? McGuane's impressive performance for Arsenal's youth teams had piqued interest from across Europe, with many of the top clubs interested in signing him. Barcelona had reportedly been watching him for two years and they won the battle to sign him after they were impressed by his blend of technique and physicality. A dream come true. Today I signed for the biggest club in the world and tomorrow I start work. What a special day it has been for me and my family. Now I am ready to start this new chapter and challenge���� @FCBarcelona@FCBarcelonaB#ForçaBarça#FCBarcelonapic.twitter.com/fHsOb8z6nM— Marcus McGuane (@marcusmcguane58) January 30, 2018 McGuane has since played four times for Barcelona B and coach Gerard Lopez says the Londoner has "everything we need" in a central midfielder. "McGuane's adapted well. He's doing well," he told ESPN. "He's a complete player. "Perhaps he just lacks that calmness on the ball, that pause in terms or our positional play, but he has everything else we need in the middle of the pitch. "He's a hard worker, good in the air, arrives in the box from deep. He's already added a lot to the team. I can use him in a lot of positions and at his age, he still has a lot of room for improvement. "In a short time he has already earned my confidence, and I hope he can become an important player for us." What has McGuane said about it all? McGuane did not see a great deal of action in his brief substitute appearance on Wednesday night, but had this to say after the match: It was a massive experience for me and my family. Words can't really describe how it felt walking out there. But it felt really good. When the coach told me I'm coming on I thought just be calm and play my game and show what I can do. A lot of people told me when I signed that Gary Lineker was the last English person to play for Barcelona. So to know that I'm next, that's some achievement. I need to carry on pushing on with the B team and get as many games as possible. And if get any opportunities to go over to the first team, I've just got to show the boss what I can do.

Marcus McGuane - Who is Barcelona's first Englishman since Gary Lineker, and why did Arsenal sell him?

With one substitute appearance on Wednesday evening, Marcus McGuane shot from relative unknown teenager to the big time. In coming off the bench to help Barcelona beat Espanyol in the Catalan Super Cup, McGuane became the first Englishman to feature for the club since Gary Lineker in 1989. McGuane, 19, only joined the Spanish giants from Arsenal in January and was one of 12 Barcelona B players brought into the first team for the match. What do we know about the young midfielder and how has he ended up at the one of the biggest clubs in the world? What has he done in his career? A born and bred Londoner, McGuane is a product of Arsenal's Hale End Academy, having joined the club when he was just six years old. Having worked his way through their various youth sides, he went on to captain Arsenal Under-18s and was a regular for the Under-23s when he opted to leave earlier this year. That decision came after he had featured just twice for Arsenal's first team - late substitute appearances in Europa League wins this season over BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade. McGuane featured twice for Arsenal in the Europa League earlier this season Credit: getty images McGuane's performances in youth football have also led to him gaining international experience. He initially represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 level before switching his allegiance to England. Since making that move, he gained eight caps England Under-17s and Under-18s, before featuring twice for the Under-19s last September. What position does he play? The simple answer is defensive midfield. But his versatility meant he played in both defence and midfield for Arsenal's Under-23s before leaving London. Arsene Wenger had this to say about McGuane: "He is a defensive midfielder, and overall he can play as a wing-back or even a centre-back in training." Why did he leave Arsenal? McGuane had spent the entire 12 years of his football education at Arsenal, rising through the ranks to make those two first-team appearances earlier this season. However, with six months remaining on his contract, he had reportedly grown concerned about his first-team chances and opted against signing a new deal. Has every Arsenal player regressed under Arsene Wenger? Instead he moved to Barcelona B for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal - with an option to extend for a further two years - containing a buyout clause of €25million (£22.4m). Wenger's selections in lesser competitions this campaign had seemed to suggest it was Joe Willock who he viewed as the club's most promising young central midfield talent rather than McGuane. Willock, 18, has been handed five starts in the Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup this season, while he was also given a five-year contract in November. With Willock seemingly rising to the top of the pecking order among the club's young talent, the likes of McGuane and Willock's own brother Chris - who left the club last summer to move to Benfica - have opted to look elsewhere, despite attempts from Arsenal to extend their stays at the club. Why did Barcelona want him? McGuane's impressive performance for Arsenal's youth teams had piqued interest from across Europe, with many of the top clubs interested in signing him. Barcelona had reportedly been watching him for two years and they won the battle to sign him after they were impressed by his blend of technique and physicality. A dream come true. Today I signed for the biggest club in the world and tomorrow I start work. What a special day it has been for me and my family. Now I am ready to start this new chapter and challenge���� @FCBarcelona@FCBarcelonaB#ForçaBarça#FCBarcelonapic.twitter.com/fHsOb8z6nM— Marcus McGuane (@marcusmcguane58) January 30, 2018 McGuane has since played four times for Barcelona B and coach Gerard Lopez says the Londoner has "everything we need" in a central midfielder. "McGuane's adapted well. He's doing well," he told ESPN. "He's a complete player. "Perhaps he just lacks that calmness on the ball, that pause in terms or our positional play, but he has everything else we need in the middle of the pitch. "He's a hard worker, good in the air, arrives in the box from deep. He's already added a lot to the team. I can use him in a lot of positions and at his age, he still has a lot of room for improvement. "In a short time he has already earned my confidence, and I hope he can become an important player for us." What has McGuane said about it all? McGuane did not see a great deal of action in his brief substitute appearance on Wednesday night, but had this to say after the match: It was a massive experience for me and my family. Words can't really describe how it felt walking out there. But it felt really good. When the coach told me I'm coming on I thought just be calm and play my game and show what I can do. A lot of people told me when I signed that Gary Lineker was the last English person to play for Barcelona. So to know that I'm next, that's some achievement. I need to carry on pushing on with the B team and get as many games as possible. And if get any opportunities to go over to the first team, I've just got to show the boss what I can do.